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Buffalo Gourd

About Buffalo Gourd

Buffalo Gourd is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Buffalo Gourd likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

⚠️ Buffalo Gourd is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. These plants are not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cucurbita foetidissima

Genus

Cucurbita

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Order

Cucurbitales

Also known as

buffalo gourd, calabazilla, chilicote, coyote gourd, fetid gourd, fetid wild pumpkin, Missouri gourd, prairie gourd, stinking gourd, wild gourd and wild pumpkin

How to care for Buffalo Gourd

💦 Water

How often to water your Buffalo Gourd

Buffalo Gourd needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Buffalo Gourd in your home

Buffalo Gourd love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Buffalo Gourd does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Buffalo Gourd in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Buffalo Gourd

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Buffalo Gourd: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Buffalo Gourd after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BuffaloGourd

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Buffalo Gourd prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Buffalo Gourd Water Frequency →

Buffalo Gourd Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Buffalo Gourd requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Buffalo Gourd Light Requirements →

Buffalo Gourd Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Buffalo Gourd is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Buffalo Gourd is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

💨 Humidity

Buffalo Gourd doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Buffalo Gourd Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Buffalo Gourd does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Buffalo Gourd →

Best Pots for Buffalo Gourd →

When and How to Successfully Repot Buffalo Gourd →

What Are Healthy Buffalo Gourd Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Buffalo Gourd should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Buffalo Gourd →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Buffalo Gourd grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Buffalo Gourd Lifecycle →

Buffalo Gourd Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Buffalo Gourd →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Buffalo Gourd can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Buffalo Gourd Temperature Tolerance →

Buffalo Gourd Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Buffalo Gourd →

When to Plant Buffalo Gourd →

How to Plant Buffalo Gourd →

Where to Plant Buffalo Gourd →

Winter Care for Buffalo Gourd →

Best Companion Plants for Buffalo Gourd →

Is Buffalo Gourd a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Buffalo Gourd, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.